Parishioners join vicar in protest conversion

Almost half a congregation has followed a vicar converting to Catholicism,
after claiming that the Church of England does not know what it “believes”
in any more.

Father Donald Minchew is leaving St Michael's & All Angels church, Poplar Walk, and the Church of England itself to become a priest at the catholic church across the roadPhoto: CASCADE NEWS

7:00AM BST 12 Apr 2012

The Rev Donald Minchew left his Anglican church of nearly two decades to join a Catholic church just up the road in Croydon, south London.

The 63-year-old quit six weeks ago because he disagreed with decisions being made by the Church of England, including the ordination of female priests and bishops.

But after he resigned from St Michael's and All Angels parish following 16 and-a-half-years, 70 of his flock decided to join him in an extraordinary leap of faith.

The vicar together with almost half of his previous congregation as well as three new members, were received into the full communion at St Mary's Church earlier this month.

Former Anglican bishop Monsignor John Broadhurst received and confirmed the group, who will now form the Croydon Ordinariate.

"These people are very brave because they have answered the call of God and the indignation of Pope Benedict and done it at a great cost," said the Rev Minchew

"I think the reason they came across during the Ordinariate is because they don't quibble over things like the clergy, but I think there is a great comfort in the Catholic church, you know what you believe and what the church teaches.

"In the Church of England you don't know what the church believes from one synod to the next. What we would have taken for granted for 30 years you can't now, but in the Catholic church it's not changing you know what you are getting into."

Father Minchew said more than 2,000 people attended the mass at St Mary’s on Easter Sunday, which was at least ten times the congregation he spoke in front of at his previous church on an Easter Sunday.

The Ordinariate will participate in Catholic services at St Mary's church and at the start of June Father Donald and Father Ken Berry, who is also formerly of St Michael's church, will be ordained into the priesthood.

They will then take services for the Croydon Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

The Rev Minchew, a father of four, spent at least 12 months pondering his decision together with its serious financial implications.

The widower sacrificed a £11,500-a-year pension, which he could start drawing in less than 18 months, and will be forced to leave his vicarage home as a result.

But despite the financial cost, he insisted it was the right decision.

"The Anglican bishop, Bishop Christopher of Southwark, the Archdeacon of Croydon, the Diocese and secretary have been extremely supportive and encouraging," he added.

"There has been no animosity from them at all, and you thought there might have been but there wasn't and I've been quite comforted by this in this pastoral journey."

Parishioner Barry Barnes, who served for 15 years on the General Synod of the Church of England, also left the church after being part of the congregation with his wife for about 30 years.

"We saw where the church was going and decided we could no longer stay in the Church of England and it was about the same sort of time the Pope made the offer of the Ordinariate," he said.

"My wife and I decided the Church of England was no longer where we wanted to be and we joined the Ordinariate for a number of reasons.

"Their [the Church of England's] attitude towards homosexuality and in light of the possible ordination of women as bishops, neither of us can accept that. If it hadn't been for the Catholic church, we would possibly have considered the Orthodox church."

A spokesman for the Diocese of Southwark, said: "Father Minchew and some members of his congregation felt it was right for them to continue their Christian life within the Ordinariate.

"Whilst we regret that we are losing them as Anglicans, we wish them well for their future Christian journey."